Travelling wire and cavity sinking EDM apparatus

Abstract

An EDM apparatus having a first support member for the workpiece and a second support member for the guide members of an electrode wire. A cross-slide provides relative linear motions between the two support members for effecting a cut in the workpiece by the electrode wire. A third support member carrying a form electrode tool is arranged to be selectively held stationary either relative to the first support member, by an appropriate first coupling member, or relative to the second support member, by a second coupling member. Under the first condition, the cross-slide provides the necessary relative linear displacements between the electrode wire and the form electrode tool for cutting the electrode tool by the electrode wire and, under the second condition, the same cross-slide provides the necessary displacements for sinking the electrode tool into the workpiece.

Having thus disclosed the present invention by way of examples of structure given for illustrative purpose only, modifications whereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art, what is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. An EDM apparatus comprising a first support member supporting a workpiece, a second support member supporting a pair of guide members for an electrode wire travelling longitudinally between the guide members, means for controllably linearly displacing one of said support members relative to the other along an X-axis and a Y-axis for effecting a cut in the workpiece by means of the electrode wire, a third support member with a tool holder for a solid electrode and means for selectively coupling the displacements of said third support member either with the displacements of said first support member or with the displacements of said second support member, means for selectively activating said controllable linear displacing means to selectively machine both said solid electrode by means of said electrode wire and said workpiece by means of said solid electrode in a tank. 
     
     
       2. The EDM apparatus of claim 1 wherein means are provided for consecutively controlling electrical discharge machining operations requiring displacement of one of said support members relative to at least one of the two other support members followed by displacement of one of said two other support members relative to the other. 
     
     
       3. The EDM apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for rotating at least one of said support members around an axis parallel to a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis. 
     
     
       4. The EDM apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for linearly displacing said third support member relative to at least one of said first and second support members along an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis. 
     
     
       5. The EDM apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third support member comprises a pair of slides enabling free displacement of the third support member relative to the second support member in parallel to a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis, said slides being provided with braking means for preventing such displacement, and wherein coupling means are provided for immobilizing said third support member relative to said first support member for causing said third support member to be displaced by said first support member relative to said second support member when said braking means are released. 
     
     
       6. The EDM apparatus of claim 4 wherein means are provided for consecutively controlling electrical discharge machining operations requiring displacement of one of said support members relative to at least one of the two other support members followed by displacement of one of said two other support members relative to the other. 
     
     
       7. The EDM apparatus of claim 5 wherein means are provided for consecutively controlling electrical discharge machining operations requiring displacement of one of said support members relative to at least one of the two other support members followed by displacement of one of said two other support members relative to the other. 
     
     
       8. The EDM apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for linearly displacing said third support member relative to at least one of said first and second support members along an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the X-axis and the Y-axis. 
     
     
       9. The EDM apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for linearly displacing said third support member relative to at least one of said first and second support members along an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the X-axis and the Y-axis. 
     
     
       10. The EDM apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third support member is connected to the second support member through a pair of slides enabling free displacement of the third support member relative to the second support member in parallel to a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis, said slides being provided with braking means for preventing such displacement, and wherein coupling means are provided for immobilizing said third support member relative to said first support member for causing said third support member to be displaced by said first support member relative to said second support member when said braking means are released. 
     
     
       11. The EDM apparatus of claim 3 wherein the third support member is connected to the second support member through a pair of slides enabling free displacement of the third support member relative to the second support member in parallel to a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis, said slides being provided with braking means for preventing such displacement, and wherein coupling means are provided for immobilizing said third support member relative to said first support member for causing said third support member to be displaced by said first support member relative to said second support member when said braking means are released. 
     
     
       12. The EDM apparatus of claim 4 wherein the third support member is connected to the second support member through a pair of slides enabling free displacement of the third support member relative to the second support member in parallel to a plane defined by the X-axis and Y-axis, said slides being provided with braking means for preventing such displacement, and wherein coupling means are provided for immobilizing said third support member relative to said first support member for causing said third support member to be displaced by said first support member relative to said second support member when said braking means are released. 
     
     
       13. The EDM apparatus of claim 3 wherein means are provided for consecutively controlling electrical discharge machining operations requiring displacement of one of said support members relative to at least one of the two other support members followed by displacement of one of said two other support members relative to the other.